Children&#39;s garment and blanket system

ABSTRACT

A children&#39;s garment and blanket system includes, in one embodiment, pajamas having a series of snaps (or other means of attachment) attached at various locations thereon, together with a blanket, quilt, or other covering having a series of corresponding snaps (or other corresponding means of attachment), so that the blanket may be affixed to the pajamas in order to hold it in place while the child is sleeping, and prevent the child from kicking the blanket off during the night. Multiple blankets may be removably attached together, and may further be removably attached to the pajamas. Alternatively, a single blanket or cover may be removably attached to multiple garments worn by multiple children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to children's bedding and sleepwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system incorporating pajamas and other sleepwear worn by children and blankets, wherein the sleepwear includes multiple points of attachment, so that a blanket, sheet or the like may be attached, in various configurations, to the child's sleepwear.

Heretofore, many different devices and systems have been devised to keep a person, typically a small child, warm while sleeping in a bed or crib. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,753 is directed to a square receiving blanket that is attachable to a diaper-size triangle of material that is fastened to the infant, diaper style, so that the blanket, being secured to the triangle, will remain in a fixed position relative to the infant.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,810 discloses a reversible blanket with attached pants, which is shaped like a flat baby blanket with a hole in the middle with a pair of pants attached. The pants are permanently attached to the hole in the middle of the blanket. The pants act like a sack with legs, which the baby can be placed inside.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,224 describes a bed sheet including a bottom fabric layer sized to extend over the sides of and underneath a mattress. A top fabric layer is generally co-extensive with, and fastened to, the bottom fabric layer and defines a pocket therebetween. A sleeping garment integrated into the top fabric layer has a pair of garment halves removably coupleable to each other via a zipper that sips up into a fastener pocket that covers the zipper when the garment is fully closed. A flap can extend from one half of the garment, over the fastener pocket and fasten to the opposite half of the garment to inhibit the user from unzipping and removing the garment. The garment can hold a lower portion of the user within said pocket, allowing the user to remain warm without the use of a separate blanket, while being able to sit or stand on the mattress.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,938 is directed to a fastener for preventing quilts from being kicked off, wherein the fastener includes a quilt and a wrapping sheet which have corresponding hook-and-loop type fasteners for wrapping a child's body and firmly securing the quilt over the child.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,822 discloses a clothing combination for keeping a person warm including sleepwear and a blanket-member that can be secured to the pajama. The sleepwear covers the legs, torso and arms of a person, and has fastening means placed across the front and back of the upper torso for fastening the blanket-member to the sleepwear. The blanket-member has a bag-like configuration that is formed from two equal sized portions that are sealed together at all but one edge to create an opening that enables the sleepwear to be placed inside the blanket-member and positioned to align with the fastening-members of the sleepwear when the blanket-member is placed around the sleepwear, such that the blanket may be fastened and thereby secured to the pajama.

Other systems are described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,325,097; 2,342,069; 7,111,344; 2,528,677; and 2,227,751. Each of the above-mentioned patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Unfortunately, these devices and systems suffer from several disadvantages. Some of these systems inhibit movement by the person or child, by tethering the child to the bed or crib when the system is in use. Additionally, it would be advantageous to provide a sleeping garment and blanket system that could be attached to a child in several different configurations, depending upon whether the child is sleeping in a crib, riding in a car seat, is being transported in a stroller, or is simply being carried by a parent or care-giver. Further, it would be desirable to provide such a system, wherein a blanket or cover could be attached to multiple children and garments simultaneously.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a children's garment and blanket system includes, in one embodiment, pajamas having a series of snaps (or other means of attachment) attached at various locations thereon, together with a blanket, quilt, or other covering having a series of corresponding snaps (or other corresponding means of attachment), so that the blanket may be affixed to the pajamas in order to hold it in place while the child is sleeping, and prevent the child from kicking the blanket off during the night.

In one embodiment, the blanket may have snaps attached along each edge thereof in spaced intervals. Alternatively, the snaps may be located strategically, in order to correspond with snaps positioned on the child's sleepwear. In a preferred embodiment, the sleepwear or pajamas may include at least one snap (and preferably multiple snaps) across a chest and upper back thereof. Additional snaps may be included, as well, on the leg portions and/or sleeves of the pajamas.

In one embodiment, a single blanket may be attached to two children asleep in a crib, wherein snaps on one side of a blanket are attached to the pajamas of a first child, and the snaps on an opposite side of the blanket may be attached to a second child. Additionally, a blanket may be attached only to the chest portion of the garment, or may be attached to the chest and legs of the garment. Further, a blanket may be attached to the chest portion and back portion of the child's garment. If a child is to be transported in a car seat, it may be desirable to attach the blanket to the leg portion and back portion of the garment. On particularly cold days, the child may be wrapped or swaddled, so that the snaps may be engaged on both the front and back sides of the child's garment, as well as the legs and sleeves. Having snaps positioned in various places on the child's garment provides flexibility, so that the blanket may be attached to the garment in many different ways and configurations, as desired. It is also contemplated that multiple blankets or covers may be attached together, and may further be attached, in combination, to sleepwear. Additionally, the attachment means positioned on the sleepwear may be used to attach other accessories, such as bibs, robes, or any other desired garment or accessory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a child's sleepwear having attachment means positioned thereon in several locations;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, showing a child wearing sleepwear that is attached on a front portion to a first blanket, and wherein a second blanket is attached to the rear side of the child's sleepwear, and further, wherein the first and second blankets are attached to one another via corresponding attachment means;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of sleepwear, showing attachment means on a front portion thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of sleepwear, showing attachment means on a rear portion thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top view of one embodiment of a cover having attachment means positioned about a periphery thereof;

FIG. 5-A is a top view of one another embodiment of a cover having attachment means positioned about a periphery thereof, and further including attachment means positioned in a central portion thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, wherein a blanket member is attached to sleepwear adjacent the shoulder portions thereof;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, wherein a blanket member is attached to sleepwear adjacent the shoulder portions thereof, and wherein the blanket is positioned below the arms of the sleepwear;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, wherein a blanket member is attached to sleepwear adjacent the waist portions thereof;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, wherein a blanket member is attached to sleepwear adjacent the knee portions thereof;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cover having attachment means positioned in spaced intervals about the cover;

FIG. 11 is a front view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, where attachment means on the front portion of sleepwear are all attached to corresponding attachment means on a blanket;

FIG. 12 is a perspective front view of one embodiment of a sleepwear and blanket system, where attachment means on the front portion of sleepwear are all attached to corresponding attachment means on a blanket, and wherein attachment means on the rear of the sleepwear are all attached to corresponding attachment means on a blanket;

FIG. 12-A is a rear perspective view of FIG. 12, showing the attachment means of the blanket being attached to attachment means on the rear of the sleepwear;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of sleepwear having attachment means positioned thereon, and further showing a bib with corresponding attachment means, wherein the bib is attached adjacent the shoulder portions of the sleepwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a system that incorporates a sleepwear garment 10 or garments, such as pajamas, with means for attachment 12 to a blanket 14, cover, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the garment 10 includes snaps 12 on a front portion thereof, adjacent the shoulders, and includes snaps 12 on the front portion adjacent the wearer's waist and/or knees, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Optionally, snaps 12 may be located on the back portion of the garment 10, as well, particularly adjacent the shoulders on the back side, but also optionally including snaps 12 adjacent the waist and/or knees on a backside, as well, as shown in FIG. 4.

The blanket 14 may include snaps 12 around each edge thereof, in spaced intervals. The spaced intervals should roughly correlate with the distance between adjacent snaps 12 on the garment 10. In other words, if the garment 10 includes one snap 12 on a front portion of the garment 10 adjacent each of the shoulders, then the snaps 12 on the blanket 14 should be separated by roughly the same distance as the distance between the shoulder snaps 12.

It should be understood that other attachment means may be used, rather than snaps 12. For instance, hook and loop fasteners may be utilized, button and buttonhole attachments may be used, or any other suitable means of attachment may be used. Additionally, although a blanket 14 is described herein as the cover that attaches to the garment 10, it should be understood that other types of covers may be used instead of a blanket 14, including sheets, quilts, afghan-type throws, and the like.

In one embodiment, it is contemplated that a single blanket 14 may be used and attached to garments 10 worn by two children, simultaneously. For example, one side of a blanket 14 may be snapped to the garment 10 of a first child, at the shoulders, and the other side of the blanket 14 may be attached to the garment 10 of a second child, at the shoulders.

Any points of attachment may be utilized between the garment 10 and the blanket 14, as desired, so that the blanket 14 may be attached in a variety of different configurations. For example, a parent or caregiver may wish to simply snap the blanket 14 to the knee snaps of the child's garment 10, as shown in FIG. 9, so that if the child gets hot during the night, he or she can remove the upper portion of the blanket 14 from their chest, while it is still attached to the lower part of the garment 10.

It is also contemplated that the garment 10 may include multiple pieces. For instance, the garment 10 may separately include a shirt and a pair of pants. The shirt may include snaps 12 or means of attachment to the blanket 14, and the pants may include attachment means, as well. Further, multiple blankets 12 may be attached together in combination, and the combination of blankets may be attached to the sleepwear, as described herein and as shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement allows a person to increase the size of the cover or blanket 14, or to provide multiple layers of covering, all of which may be attached to the sleepwear in any desirable configuration or manner.

Snaps 12 may also be attached to the back portion of the garment 10, so that the blanket 14 may be connected to a rear portion thereof, as shown in FIG. 12-A. Such back snaps 12 may be affixed in any desired position, including adjacent the shoulders, near the waist, the knees or the feet. Similarly, the front snaps 12 may be placed in any desired position. In one embodiment, the blanket may include snaps that correspond with each snap on the front of the garment, each snap on the back of the garment, or both, as shown in FIGS. 10-12. This configuration allows a child to be thoroughly swaddled by the blanket 12, which may be secured all about the child, particularly for transport or during cold weather spells.

Alternatively, the snaps 12 on the blanket 14 may simply be located around the periphery thereof, as shown in FIGS. 5-6, so that the blanket 14 may be affixed to the garment 10 in any desired fashion. In one configuration, the blanket 14 may be snapped onto the front shoulder snaps 12 by skipping a snap on the blanket. This configuration allows extra fabric and space between the blanket 14 and the child, so that a stuffed animal or pillow may be placed between the blanket 14 and the child.

It is contemplated that the blanket 14 may be of any desired size or shape, although in a preferred embodiment, it is shaped like a standard blanket, either square or rectangular in shape. Although the system referred to herein has been described as being for use on an infant, child or toddler, it is also contemplated that larger versions may be used for full-grown adults, and particularly for elderly people.

Optionally, other accessories may include attachment means that correspond to the attachment means of the garment(s). For example, a bib 16 may have snaps 12 that correspond to the snaps 12 on the front shoulder portions of the garment 10, so that the bib 16 may be removably snapped to the garment 10 at feeding time, as shown in FIG. 13, and subsequently removed thereafter. Additionally, a robe may have attachment means that correspond with the attachment means of the sleepwear 10, so that the robe may be removably snapped to the garment 10.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleepwear cover system comprising: a garment wearable by a person as sleepwear, said garment including multiple attachment means for removably attaching said garment to a cover; a cover having multiple attachment means positioned thereon in various locations for removable attachment to said garment; wherein said cover may be removably attached to said garment by connecting said attachment means of said garment to said attachment means of said cover; and wherein said cover may be removably attached to said garment in any desired configuration by connecting any desired cover attachment means to any desired garment attachment means.
 2. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said garment includes attachment means on a front portion of said garment adjacent each shoulder of said garment.
 3. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said garment includes attachment means on a rear portion of said garment adjacent each shoulder of said garment.
 4. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said garment includes attachment means on a front portion of said garment adjacent each knee of said garment.
 5. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said garment includes attachment means on a rear portion of said garment adjacent each knee of said garment.
 6. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover is selected from the group consisting of a blanket, quilt, comforter and sheet.
 7. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means are attached thereto in generally evenly spaced intervals about a periphery thereof.
 8. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, further including a second garment wearable by a second person, said garment including multiple attachment means for removably attaching said garment to said cover, so that said cover may be removably attached to garments worn by two different people, simultaneously.
 9. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment means is selected from the group consisting of snaps, buttons and button holes, and mating hook and loop fasteners.
 10. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, wherein each said cover attachment means are positioned on said cover in such a way as to correspond to each said garment attachment means, so that each said garment attachment means may be attached to a correspondingly positioned cover attachment means.
 11. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second cover, wherein said second cover includes attachment means for attachment to said cover and said garment, so that said second cover may be removably affixed to said garment and said cover.
 12. The sleepwear cover system set forth in claim 1, further comprising an additional accessory, wherein said additional accessory includes attachment means for attachment to said garment, and wherein said additional accessory is selected from the group consisting of a bib or a robe. 